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History of Met Women Police Officers

Two things were instrumental to the grudging acceptance of Women Police in the second decade of the 20th Century: Concern over the slave traffic and the advent of the First World War.

'....................the strength of Police forces fell rapidly as men of all ranks left to join the Colours. Everywhere problems of order and decency in public places cried out for an urgent solution' wrote Dorothy Peto, the first Woman Police Staff Officer in her dairies.

Faced with conditions which offered both a challenge and an opportunity, two separate schemes for the organisation and employment of women on police duties were promptly launched. Women's movements abstained from their militant activities to help the war effort.

In 1914 Nina Boyle advertised in 'The Vote' for women to offer themselves as 'Specials' , when Sir Edward Ward called on the nation for special constables. She called for recruits to work part time as 'Women Volunteer Police' (WVP) Sir Edward declared only men were suitable, Nina Boyle ignored him and carried on recruiting. Mean while Miss Margaret Damer Dawson, a suffragette - was 'Head of Transport' of a committee formed by Chelsea people, who greeted and helped Belgian refugees escaping from the Germans, she had been involved in an incident whereby a couple of the refugees had been 'spirited' away by 'white slavers, she needed a group of women in uniform - women police in fact. She had commenced recruiting 'women police' in September 1914. When she learnt of Nina Boyles plans, they decided to join forces and Nina became her deputy. They became the 'Women Police Volunteers' (WPV). In February 1915 - Damer Dawson and Boyle fell out over the WPV being used to police a curfew enforced against women. A vote was taken, Boyle was defeated. Damer Dawson decided to drop the name 'Women Police Volunteers' and reformed the group as the 'Women Police Service' WPS. Later they became the Women's Auxiliary Service (WAS).

The Met.'s future Women Police had their foundation in the second scheme proposed by the National Union of Women Workers, known from 1918 as the National Council for Women. In 1914 they had been approached by Scotland Yard and asked to set up women patrols in the Metropolitan Police area, they were known as Voluntary Women Patrols (VWP). Their task was to work among the women and girls who were coming to London in increasing numbers to hang around the various army camps, parks, recruiting stations and railway terminals.

A special Women's Patrol Committee was formed by the National Union in London and within a few months more than 500 voluntary patrols had enrolled, the movement gradually spreading throughout the country and proving to be of invaluable help. The National Union of Women Patrols Committee received a subsidy of £400 in 1917 to carry out its patrol work in the Metropolitan area. Records show that 2,338 women were working as patrols in 92 different areas. The Union trained the women and then sent them out under their auspices or lent them to Chief Constables. Between 4,000 and 5,000 women passed through their hands.

Mrs Sofia Stanley was appointed Supervisor of 'Special Patrols', there were 37 Special Patrols in London at the beginning of 1917, working two nights a week. By the end of 1917 London had 55 full time Special Patrols. But there was confusion and conflict in the different approaches that arose between the two groups - the WPS being more militant. In 1918 women aged 30 and over were given the Vote for the first time. By the end of 1918 the Home Secretary had ordered the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to recruit women into the police force.

Interestingly in 1916 women had for the first time in history been employed as typists in New Scotland Yard, taking the place on male officers. The Daily Express asked a Scotland Yard official if women would ever be employed as police constables? 'No, not even if the war lasts fifty years' was the reply.

1918

23rd December - Police Orders sets out the qualifications and conditions for the new 'Metropolitan Police Women Patrols'.

The Monday after Christmas the first group of women began training at Beak Street Section House.

1919

Women Police established in London when the first Metropolitan Police Women Patrols came into service on 17th February.

Establishment 110. Strength 110. The first batch were recruited from the' Special Patrols', although many in the second batch were from the WPS.